Are you broke?

Mummy, are we broke? Why? anything wrong i asked Yang Zhi. He said because our used to be packed with ice-cream, chocolate, milk, yogurt etc refrigerator looks so empty! :(. Ha..ha..Yang Zhi is always very humourous and at times really brighten me up. Never stuff up these commodities at the moment because you never know when will be the next products to be tested with high melamine! Just see the recent one like the Cup noodles, then today the eggs in Hong Kong. So better just stick to the 3 basic meals! This is what i told him. He then asked me did I do any investment and is any of my investment affected by current financial crisis. Never reply him but he gave me an advice - Pls invest or keep your money wisely as it will belongs to Jie Jie and me!!! See another joke!

Couple of days ago, while driving YY back from school, i asked what you wants to be when you grow up? Instantly, she said I want to be a Tai Tai. Okok, so please be a Takashimaya Tai Tai and not HDB Tai Tai I suggested. Guess, we are a family of joker. So, I think am I a Taka tai tai OR maybe not because i still drive there by myself. To be a real Taka tai tai is either your chauffeur drive you there or by cab. Anyway, today went Taka with Yichun, Shun Xiang and Yan Ying. Sort of early Christmas gift for them. Can feel that they were happy at heart and so am I. In the past, it is much easier to buy clothes for them whenever you see nice stuffs with good price. But not now as they are growing up and they have their own "fashion style" Yang Zhi and Wanting did not come along as both are mugging for the coming SA2 and 'O' respectively. Jiayou and good luck! So Wanting..I owe you a pair of Levis Jeans. Just feel that Yan Ying is getting more sensible and more open minded to share her views. :) Just hope that the calling of "mummy" will not go lesser..

Guess, the twelve who signed up to go Beijing are already looking forward to it. Started to pack..borrow winter clothes.sweater here and there already right! Ha..Ha.. Yichun is asking me to change one of the intineary from Themes park to some scenics visit. Reason being "wow lau" china themes park leh! Can we trust the maintanence? Agreed! so going to call the tour agent to get IT CHANGE! No worry!

Enjoy and Release

Attended A Mei's star tour concert last Saturday @ Indoor Stadium. Wow! bravo! Full house with energetic, full supported fan! Anytimes during the concert, you can hear fans shouting A Mei, Ah Mei.................i love you!.............Her voice is powerful and her songs lyrics touch your heart. I like to go concert esp pop concert.. kind of stress release! Dun care anything just sing along and shake along!! Good for slimming also! Amei also sang "if I ain't got you" by Alicia Key.
Love the song ! Quickly went home and search You tube for this song! While listening. Yang Zhi ran from his room to mine and said..Wow! Alicia Key's song , you also like this song? Yi Chun ex favourite! Har..Yang Zhi also know Alicia Key, wow! my children all very hip hop one! Guess I better catch up. He even introduced "Superwoman" by Alicia Key and he said this song match me. Look up the youtube...and found out that indeed it is. Nice song! After listening to "Superwoman" make one feel super..super..superwoman when one is not feeling up!

They Lyrics go :-

Everywhere I'm turning, Nothing seems complete
Stand up and I'm searching for the better part of me
I hang my head from sorrow, State of humanity
And so I wear it on my shoulders
Got to find the strength in me.
Cause I am a Superwoman
Yes I am, Yes She is
Still When I'm a mess, I still put on a vest with a 'S' on my chest.
Oh yes, I'm a Superwoman
This is for all the mothers fighting for better days to come.
And all my women, all sitting here trying to come home before the sun.
And all my sister coming together. Say yes I will, Yes I can.
Cause I am a Superwoman. Yes I am , Yes she is.
Still when i'm a mess, I still put on a vest with a 'S' on my chest.
When I'm breaking down. And I can't be found As I start to get weak,
Cause no one knows me underneath these clothes.
But I can fly, we can fly,
Oh cause I am a superwoman.
Yes I am , Yes she is.....

All woman are superwoman especially all the working mother! To strike a balance btw
family and work is not a simple task! Job and family are equally demanding that make
all woman a REAL MODERN SUPERWOMAN! Jia you!

Money Stolen

Yesterday, received a call from Yang Zhi. He sadly told me that his money was stolen. According to him, he left his bag in his classroom and went for his Int'l Chess Club. Upon his returned to his class, he found his wallet was not in his bag but was under the last desk in the classroom. $7.00 gone! His classroom was occupied by another class having remedial lesson. so he asked the teacher who was in the classroom for help. To his surprised, the teacher replied was cold" because I was here so you conveniently asked me to check for you isn't and why dun you checked the surrounding" According to YZ was that he requested the teacher to check those students in the class because it could be one of them. To me, I thought this is the first approached the kid will do in school, that is to ask the teacher for help! I felt that younger teachers are not able to handle situation wisely which compared to more senior teachers. This also tell us that younger teachers only come to school to teach the subjects but forgetting about morale education. Instantly, i feel that this is one area that current education is lacking of. So since the teacher cannot help him, so he checked with me whether I can go to his school. Mother is the main pillar of a child. Usually they will call the mother for help, advise whenever things happen. And of course, mother usually also will attend to it as quickly as possible. While I were driving to Yew Tee Pr School, the memory of my old friend who has passed away 5 ot 6 years ago leaving behind two young children keep flowing to my mind. Who can they turn to? Children without mother, who will be the next figure for them to turn to? Well, life is unpredictable, so let's treasure whatever you have and also people around you.

Just feeling!

I suddenly felt that people who talk alots especially talk alots of nonsenses are those that are not so intelligent. If you observe those who usually talk less are those who are very sharp and smart. I started to agree lately with my own observance.

07 Sept 08

Just attended Soka's Teck Whye Chapter Friendship Gathering at Senja branch. Topics is "Let our lives shines with absolute happiness. I am a buddhist but not a Soka member yet. One of my good friend, Chong Lee Chen who has been member for more than 20 years invited my sisters and I to attend this gathering. She is one of the speaker to share her experiences on why, how she overcomes problems, fulfill wishes from the practice of Nichiren Buddhism. Basically, I thinks all teaching of buddhism are similar and one just need to have faith in your own Buddhist school of taught.

Mature Kids - My 6 years old nephew, Bryan was sitting besides me. He was reading his classmates name list that her mom written down. So I ask him, what is the name list for. He told me he wanted to invite these friends to his upcoming birthday party. And then, he whisper to my ears "Er yi" let's me tell you a secret, Xinru is my girlfriend and I like her. He then pointed to another girl's name and he told me this is my "ex" and now i dun like her anymore!!
My goodness..a 6 years boy talking about his love!!! Then while driving back home, my 19 years old nephew, Yi Chun told us that everyone in his office were shocked to know that his 19 years old colleague is married with a kid. Immediately..YC said confirmed must be "shot gun". My son, Yang Zhi 10 repeat confirmed one! I asked him "u know meh" He said I know..meaning has baby before married!! Think back when I was 6 and 10 i knew nothing about all these adult topics!! Very mountain tortoise hor !

Retail Therapy!! Shocking me!

I have not been shopping for office attire for past 12 months. My all times favourite , jacket suit. This is my trade mark!! very business like attire. Take a peep at my wardrobe..sigh! those suits are looking tired and out of design. So decided to visit Blum & Co at International Plaza to get 1 or 2 suits was my initial target. You know, terrible..I end up bought 5 suits, 1 blouse, 1 dress , 1 jacket. Thank you, Ms Jane Alison and here is your total bill - S$1935!! WoW!! so these pcs going to last me for the next 1 to 2 years!! Blum has many good design suits..from Hugo boss, Giorgio Armani , Gucci. I like the services there and it also provide free alteration. Blum has many branches but I usually go to IP because not so many customers and you can have all the attention!! Also bought a white Toscano Bag - S$249 and a pair of Ameriaya shoe at S$149/- at Takashimay. Total spent - S$2333.00 within two days!!! There is a saying money hard to earn but easy to spend. Shocking me too but one thing for sure..I dun shop often. Maybe quarterly or bi yearly! so still ok for S$2333.00 right, my friend! No guilty!!

Stay at home Mama or Working Mama ?

The hot topic lately is about stay at home mama or working mama. It's all depends on individual choice and the life style that you want. Nothing to do with money!! I feel that before making a choice, the woman really need to understand herself whether you are someone who can stay at home. To be a homemaker, I suppose you must have patience with kids, you must love to cook and have the academic qualification to teach your child. You've to be committed to be "a stay at home mama "with objectives. I know of some mama, yes who stay at home but not for the kids but more for themselves to enjoy life. No cooking but packet food from hawkers,
no coaching but playing mahjongs..!!wake up late in the morning, not preparing breakfast..etc.
So which one you are?

Nickname

Yang Zhi gives me this nickname - can can woman because everythings he asked me I will say can..can. You know why? Because he usually asked me things when I am busy at work..and all those are like random questions and are not important that i need to pause to discuss with him ..hee.hee. Anyway..quite a nice nickname - can can woman!

Well, started to explore facebook after knowing that you can choose to let only your friends to view your picture. Initially, I thought cannot choose and think that the whole world can see which I don't feel comfortable. Indeed, it is more convenient to load pic to share with friends and siblings.

Lately everyone is eating less to slim down..people at the office..people at supplier's office, people at home. So let's organise more hiking, walking..running..etc instead of makan..eat..eat!
Good sign! Couple weeks ago, my brothers and sisters already went for the long long bridge walk but I did not join them because it was 8am on Sunday. Sunday is my only day to wake up late,you know! Every morning except Sunday, i need to wake up 6.15am to drive two towkays to school. Saturday slightly late abit..8am to drive the lady boss for CCA.

Tonite, met my good friend for dinner at one of our favourite Italian restaurant, Garibaldi at Purvis Street. The prices for this restaurant are a bit steeper than most Italian Restaurants in Singapore . However, if you have sampled a meal there, you will agree with me that the quality that one can get in this restaurant does justify its high prices. My friend foot the bill this time. Thank you, my dear friend!

Baby Bonus

As a owner of a Small Enterprise company, I do concern about the BB - Baby bonus that announced on the National Rally that the maternity leave will extend from 12 weeks to 16 weeks. Four months!!! Though, the government will pay for the 8 weeks but I think most of the SME with less than 10 employees will be facing short handed. Unlike the MNC where they have more staffs to share the work load and also they can afford to employ contract/temp worker. As for small company usually just handful of employees and if one go for 16 weeks leave, the poor co worker will be over loaded. It'll be good if the government can also pay for the contract/temp workers on behalf of the company till the staff return from maternity!!

Fantastic moment for Singapore!

I like to use SGP short form for Singapore instead of SIN. I suppose many singaporean were watching the Table-tennis match between China and SGP at 7.30pm on 17.08.08. First was the happy moment to get in to final for at least a Silver medal after 48 years and then came the excitement match and finally proud moment to see our State Flag went up after 48 years for silver medal at the Olympia!! Congratulations! The joy will be much different if the three players are not under the foreign talent import scheme. They are from China!! Though, they are now a Singaporean but still different!! No choice lah! a small nation like us cannot find sport talents also become most of the parents here still prefer their children to go main stream than to SPORT. Perhaps, soon will change because of $$$$ I think only SGP reward big sum to those players who manage to get a medal. Silver - S$750K and S$1.5millions for GOLd!! Why not? And where the money come from?

Money just enough is the best!

Good morning , Xu Dong. This is what most of the friendly staff at CCK DBS greet me. Thanks to Sally who started to call me by this title and I like it! Hee..I visit them at least thrice a week and I am one of their regular customer. I enjoy the privilege services. Thumbs up! Anyway, while chit-chatting with the teller, I were told that to open a joint account for more than 2 person, applicants are to state valid reasons for approval. Unlike in the past, no questions was asked. Why? She said to minimize dispute over the distribution of money if one of them kick a bucket. Usually 3 names account often have such case. Sigh! we said together MONEY is always the root of all evils. If too much money, siblings quarrel over the unequal share distributed. If no money, siblings quarrel over money not enough, why you contribute so little!! Money just enough is the best. Nothing more, nothing less so Nothing to quarrel !
BUT 有钱不一定会快乐, 没钱肯定不快乐…朋友还是努力赚钱吧! Jia you!

Good friend is like a Good Bra.

While driving YY and SX to school, received a SMS from a good friend. It says Good friend is like a Good Bra. Hard to find. Supportive. Comfortable. Always lift you up. Never let you down or leave you hanging. And is always close to your heart! Just like it so much, it really says what good friends are for. So send to 3 good girl friends so that be it when they put on or take off, they will remember me...kee..kee. I treasure friendship and cannot live without good friends around. I'm blessed to have a couple of them.

I am a Buddhist.

I decided to blog again after my usual visit to The Uttamayanmuni Buddhist Temple on 10 Aug 08 at 32B Hong San Terrace for the Ullambane Festival. The current Abbot, Ven. Phra Phian Saccavaro usually explain to us the meaning of the festival as well as why we need to perform. In the past, due to the Abbot cannot speak English as such no explanation was made and most of the followers just do without really know the purpose. I personally feel that with the new English speaking Abbot on board, most of the followers now can understand the significance of each festival /activites. As such I decided to pen down what i have taught and learn from the Dhamma talk . Next week, Ven. Chun Qing will talk about 7th month festival...
in Mandarin. If you are free, pls come to join us at 10.00am.

I was introduced to Uttamayanmuni Buddhist Temple from my mother at the age of 14. Before that we were Taoism partly due to my late grandmother. I do not have much knowledges about Taoism so used to feel uneasy and scared of those deities statues. When I first entered into the main shrine, I felt peace when I see the statue of Buddha Shakyamuni, I felt peace and wanted to know about Buddhism. This was how and why I become a Buddhist. My first understanding of Buddhism is that Buddhism is a way of finding peace within oneslef. It is a religion that helps us to find the happiness and contentment we week. Buddhists develop inner peace, kindness and wisdom through their daily practice; and then share their experience with others bringing real benefit to this world. They try not to harm others and to live peacefully and gently, working towards the ultimate goal of pure and lasting happiness for all living beings.